Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Swedish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Jag vill också dricka kaffe.
Why is it dricka and not dricker after vill?
Because vill is a modal verb. After modals in Swedish (like vill, kan, ska, måste, bör, brukar, lär) you use the bare infinitive without att: Jag vill dricka kaffe. By contrast, the present tense on its own is Jag dricker kaffe (I drink/am drinking coffee).
Why is there no att before dricka?
After modal verbs you don’t use att: Jag vill dricka kaffe. Many other verbs do require att with an infinitive, e.g. Jag gillar att dricka kaffe. Note that att can also mean that, as in Jag vill att du dricker kaffe (a different construction).
Where should också go? Is Jag också vill dricka kaffe correct?
No. In main clauses Swedish is V2: the finite verb (vill) must be in second position. Adverbs like också normally come after the finite verb: Jag vill också dricka kaffe. Putting it before the verb (Jag också vill…) is ungrammatical in a neutral statement.
What’s the difference between Jag vill också dricka kaffe and Jag vill dricka kaffe också?
- Jag vill också dricka kaffe. Emphasizes the subject or the wanting: I, too, want to drink coffee (like someone else does).
- Jag vill dricka kaffe också. Emphasizes the addition of coffee: I want to drink coffee too (in addition to something else I’m drinking/wanting). Context and intonation decide the exact reading; both are natural.
Can I use även or med instead of också?
- även is a bit more formal/written: Jag vill även dricka kaffe.
- med is colloquial for too/as well, often at the end or as a stand‑alone: Jag vill dricka kaffe med. / Jag med. Avoid dessutom here if you mean too; Dessutom vill jag dricka kaffe means moreover/furthermore.
Does Jag vill sound too direct? How do I make it more polite?
It can be direct in requests. Softer alternatives:
- Jag skulle också vilja dricka kaffe.
- Jag vill gärna dricka kaffe. When ordering, prefer: Jag skulle vilja ha en kaffe, tack.
Why is there no article before kaffe?
Kaffe is typically a mass noun in Swedish, so no article is used for coffee in general: dricka kaffe. If you mean a specific coffee, use the definite: dricka kaffet. If you mean one serving, say en kopp kaffe or, in café talk, en kaffe.
Is kaffe an en or ett word?
Grammatically it’s neuter (ett): the definite form is kaffet. However, in the countable “one coffee” sense you’ll commonly hear en kaffe at cafés. So: mass noun neuter, but countable serving often takes en.
How do I say “Me too” as a reply to this idea?
Natural options:
- Jag med.
- Jag också.
- Det vill jag också. (echoing the verb) All are fine; Jag med is very common in speech.
How do I make it negative?
Place inte after the finite verb in a main clause: Jag vill inte dricka kaffe. In a subordinate clause it comes before the finite verb: att jag inte vill dricka kaffe.
How do I say “I don’t want to drink coffee either”?
Use heller (not också) in negatives: Jag vill inte dricka kaffe heller. As a short reply: Det vill jag inte heller.
How do you pronounce också, jag, and kaffe?
- också is often pronounced like “åxå” (spelled också in standard writing). The å is like the vowel in English “law.”
- jag is commonly “ya/yah”; the final g is often weak or silent in many accents.
- kaffe is “KAFF-eh,” with stress on the first syllable. Exact sounds vary by region, and the stress is typically on the first syllable of content words.
What happens to word order if I start with a time/place?
Keep the finite verb second (V2): Idag vill jag också dricka kaffe. / På jobbet vill jag också dricka kaffe. Subject comes after the verb in these cases.
How do I ask “Do you also want to drink coffee?”
Invert subject and finite verb: Vill du också dricka kaffe? For a negative question: Vill du inte dricka kaffe?
Where does också go in a subordinate clause?
After the subject and before the finite verb: Jag sa att jag också vill dricka kaffe. (Subordinate clauses don’t use V2; the finite verb follows the adverb.)
Is there a difference between vill, ska, and tänker here?
Yes:
- vill = want: Jag vill dricka kaffe.
- ska = will/going to (plan or arrangement): Jag ska dricka kaffe.
- tänker = intend/plan to: Jag tänker dricka kaffe. Choose based on meaning.
Are there more idiomatic ways to talk about having coffee?
Yes, very common in speech:
- ta en kaffe (have/grab a coffee): Jag vill också ta en kaffe.
- fika (have coffee/snack, hang out): Ska vi fika? You could say: Jag vill också fika.